Becoming the Bulfords

Our Italian adventure began in the rolling hills of Tuscany, where endless vineyards, quiet roads, and golden sunsets set the tone for a dreamlike trip. We spent our days touring through wineries, sipping incredible wine, and soaking in the kind of scenery that feels like it was painted just for you. From there, we traveled to Florence; a city that immediately stole our hearts. We explored world-famous museums, ate some of the best food of our lives, and fell even more in love with the magic of Italy. Josh had planned the perfect spot for our evening aperitivo on a rooftop he’d found ahead of time… but when we arrived, it was closed. A small twist of fate. We were directed instead to the rooftop at the Grand Hotel Baglioni, just around the corner. Up there, above the city, everything felt perfect. We ordered cocktails and watched as Florence stretched out before us. As we were getting ready to leave to make our dinner reservation, Josh became strangely insistent about getting a photo from the top of this private tower - what we had later called our “bird’s nest” of Florence. After sneaking up, we took the time to take in the panoramic view of the city beneath us, talking about how lucky we felt to be there. And then, with my back turned, Josh dropped to one knee. When I turned around, he asked the question that changed everything. I couldn’t even tell you exactly what he said—I completely blacked out from shock. Of course, I said yes. It was intimate, emotional, and absolutely perfect: just the two of us, on top of Florence, with the Duomo smiling behind us. The rest of the trip felt like a dream. We continued south to Sorrento, boating along the sparkling coast, sipping limoncello, and soaking up the sun. Our final stop was the ancient city of Rome, where we spent a day at the Vatican and liked to imagine the Pope himself gave our future marriage a little blessing. It was the most meaningful and unforgettable trip we’ve ever taken. Italy will always have a piece of our hearts.